This R&B Song Shows Just How Disposable Music Has Become
Anitta’s not-quite-cover is good, not great. And that’s a problem.
Story time!
My wife Holly and I were out visiting a Sephora store recently, and like I tend to do when I visit stores in malls or shopping centers, I was trying to listen closely to the music playing overhead. It wasn’t blaring loud, but this song was playing. Because Holly and I were also chatting with the young sales associate, I didn’t quite recognize it at first. But 30 seconds in, it hit me.
“Oh my goodness, this is ‘The Girl from Ipanema!!’” I blurted out.
“I’m sorry…?” said the young lady.
“He’s talking about the music,” said Holly, in an apologetic tone.
“This is amazing,” I continued. “It’s an R&B trap cover of a classic bossa nova jazz tune from 1963!!!”
And before I could mention the influence of Antonio Carlos Jobim on mid-20th century standards, the young woman complimented me on my musical knowledge, but she did it in a way that one might marvel at an old former fighter pilot in an assisted living facility. She was very polite, and probably a little…
